Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-29
XXI i'm CRS u 4 Con YIC I|]''l

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From the Youths Companion.
In 1880 q boy was born in an obscure.
housein what was then q disreputable
street in the city Of Boston. His moth
or, who was never strong, andFho 81
probably weakened herself from diss,,
patton, died before he reached his eighth
year. His father was . professional
thief, and brought his son up to follow
in his footsteps. The only education
the boy ever received was in that di-
rection. '@1 ~ .s<t:55
He early developed into shrewd,
cunning and successful thief. At ten
years old he would have surprised even
the noted Mr.. Fagin by his dexterity.
His career though brilliant was brief.
Ia 1916 father and son, the latter then
only sixteen years of age, were commit
ted to the State Prison, the first for
five, the latter for two, years, for rob-
bling store. In consequence of his
youth, and OF his, beinga bright, sharp
witted fellow, he received great deal
of sympathy, and was finally pardon
ed. :,
He was discharged from the prison
| with one dollar in his pocket. He had
no home nor friend in the wide world,
outside of his criminal associates, to
whom he could apply for advice or as
sistance. As matter Of course he went
back to his old friends.
Success attended him for some time,
but before he reached his twentieth
year he was again arrested. He had
become so noted that the District At
torney felt justified in pursuing an unus-
ual course-that of making each one of
eight larcenies separate charge against
him. He was convicted. upon each
count, and was sentenced to the State
Prison for thirty years. ..
Fortunately for him, he looked upon
the bright side. He proved to be per-
seyering and Industrious, and became
an excellent workman.
Reserved and quiet, he had no COM
munication with the other convicts, and
seldom asked a favor. obeying the rules
faithfully except in one respect. Hav-
ing been once pardoned, he had no hope,
for many years at least, in that direc-
ton; his only chance of freedom was to
escape, and he was frequently detected
in some scheme for that purpose.
But unlike most others engaged in
such plans, no dangerous weapons were
ever found upon him. A long time of
unusual quietness, on one occasion, led
me to suspect that, like the calm, it was
the forerunner of a storm. I became
satisfied that he was making quiet
preparations to escape, but how or in
what manner I could not conceive. He
had nothing in his cell except table,
high cricket and Bible. had examined
these very carefully many times with
out being able to discover anything
wrong.
One day, I noticed that the heads of
the nails in his seat, which was made
of inch board, were covered with putty.
On removing the putty from one of
them, found that the seat was fastened
with screws instead OF nails. With
screw-drlver I removed one of
the side pieces which secured
the legs, and the secret was di.
vulged. The edge OF the board
which formed the leg had been mortised
out, making quite areceptacle, in which
was concealed a set Of keys, fitting all
the locks from his cell door to the
outer one.
I sent for him and showed him what
I had discovered. His head dropped
for moment, then raising his eyes,
with look so sad and soFrowful that
the impression has not yet passed from
my mind, he said,-
''Mr. Warden, thus pointing to the
keys-'vanish into air hopes that have
buoyed me up for the last three years.
I have one more, the key to- the outer
door, on which I am now at work.
Permit me to return to the shop. No
one else can find it, and I will deliver it
up. It is of no use to me now"
The key was found concealed in the
floor under his bench.
I felt that any punishment Trad the
power to infict would be slight eompar-
ed with what he suffered from the dis
eovery of his plans, and the destruction
Of his hopes Of escape. He was there
fore permitted to return to- bis work
without being punished.
Years passed. He maintaind tire same
quiet demeanor, giving no trouble, max
ing no moro attempts to escape until he
had reached his twelfth year in prison.
The rebellion had broken OUT. troops
were called for. He became quite in
terested in the result, and early express
ed desire to take part in the conflict,
that he might, as he said, to some extent
by his services, or even his life, COM
pensate the community for the, wrongs
he had committed.
Feeling great interest in The man,
I laid his case before Gov. Andrew, who
granted him pardon. saw him en-
listed in one Of the Massachusetts regi-
naents, and was present when he left for
the seat of war. He assured mel should
hear no III report from him.
On the night following the battle Of
Fredericksburg the Union commanders,
uncertain OF the movements of the
enemy during the night, called for some
one to volunteer to go to the front, and
if possible ascertain what they were do
ing. -. H. s.. ..... D.. Il :
D-,as I shall calf him. was the
FIRST to step forward. Receiving his
instructions, he silently disappeared in
the darkness. After along interval Of
almost intolerable suspense, the silence
was suddenly broken by struggling
shots followed by volley all along the
enemys lines. A few minutes later our
spy emerged from the darkness covered
with mud and the blood streaming from
half-a-dozen wounds. e. -"
He had succeeded IN penetrating
their lines, and had obtained q correct
knowledge Of their plans. In attempt
ing to return he was discovered, fired
upon, and wounded in several places,
but not seriously. The darkness favor